I’m sure you’ve asked yourself more than once how much F1 car costs. Don’t worry, we are also curious and today we are going to answer that question.
As you can imagine, the total bill comes out at a premium, because although these vehicles hardly include any extras in their equipment, they are tiled to the ceiling, and we can tell you that even with the salaries of the drivers of the specialty you could not buy one on your own. The incredible evolution of the single-seaters since 1950 -the year of the first World Championship- until today, has been proportional to the increase of its production costs.
They are supposed to be the most advanced and (presumably) perfect racing machines on the planet Motorsport, except for the McLata, of course. Furthermore, following the philosophy of the Great Circus, they are built with the most advanced, lightweight, and resistant materials and composites (kevlar, zylon, titanium, carbon fiber, etc.) that exist. Also, the most brilliant brains in engineering and design are involved in their development and manufacture. And of course, all these factors added, make the final ‘product’ very expensive.
Well, without further ado, let’s detail, almost piece by piece, how much a F1 car costs. By the way, the figures we offer are indicative and reflect the average of what each team invests in these components. Here is the list.
Flyer: 56.30 USD
Far away have been those wooden wheels with which the pioneers of speed were seen to be stiff to vary the direction of their machines. Today, the steering wheels allow the pilot to monitor a lot of functions of his car through a liquid quartz screen.
Engine maps, ERS or energy recovery systems, braking distributor, clutch adjustments, car balance, radio communication of the equipment, torque adjustment, speed, gears, pit lane speed limitation, and much more are controlled from these real computers. Who is surprised that they cost an average of 56.30 dollars? It is not one of the most expensive parts, but it does influence the price of a formula 1.
Front wing: 178.98 USD
One of the crucial elements in a F1 car is the front wing, in charge of distributing the airflow towards the rear of the car and generating aerodynamic load.
However, because of its location, it is very exposed to shocks and tends to break in (almost) any crash. Its price is around 178.98 dollars and sometimes, in the same Grand Prix, several are crushed. What a pain in the pocket!
Rear spoiler: 89.73 Dollars
Like the front wing, the rear wing fulfills crucial aerodynamic functions. It is responsible for generating support or load -together with the diffuser- on the rear wheels to improve cornering, as well as traction and braking. No wonder it costs about 89.73 dollars.
Fuel tank: 122.92 USD
Do not think that the fuel tank of a car is like one of your utility vehicles. Not at all. The FIA imposes strict security measures so that in case of a puncture, neither the leak becomes a barbecue, nor it’s pilot a grilled steak.
That’s why they are built with special materials that insulate from fire and withstand terrible blows thanks to reinforcement in that area of the F1 car. Oh, and they must be located just behind the driver and in front of the engine. All this translates into 122.92 dollars.
Hydraulic system: 181.35 USD
The main functions of a single-seater are in the hydraulic system, from the brakes to the accelerator to the gearbox, and a lot more. No wonder they ask 181.35 dollars for this core element of F1 cars.
Cooling system: 183.84 USD
If the temperature of the F1 cars is not controlled, they can overheat and end up blowing up. That’s not to mention the electronics that usually bring a few degrees to the machine. To avoid this, racing teams invest 183.84 dollars in their cooling systems. A bargain.
Gearbox: 538.72 USD
The nearly 400 elements that make up a gearbox, specially designed for each car and essential in the operation of the vehicle, make the teams pay almost half a million euros, about 538.72 dollars
Do you think it’s a pasture? Well, imagine a bug without transmission. Surely you don’t think so much of it anymore.
Engine: More than 7 million dollars
Without any doubt, the heart of a F1 car is its engine, built with the lightest and most resistant materials available. The speed -and power- that the machine can develop depends largely on it. The architecture of the car is created around it.
And that explains quite well what the propeller represents for a team. So every time you hear it roar you think of the more than 7 million euros! that it takes to build it. Yes, it is the most expensive element of all, and when it comes to knowing how much a F1 car costs, you have to keep it very much in mind.
Carbon fiber chassis: 56.30 dollars
To avoid as much as possible the damages that the pilot can suffer in an accident, the racing cars have a monocoque chassis that protects him. Built with about 60 layers of carbon fiber, it is capable of withstanding impacts of an enormous force.
It is surprising how resistant this compound is, thinner than a human hair and capable of becoming a survival cell for the runner. After reading this, I’m sure you’ll find his 728.96 dollars a bargain. To us too, although its impact on the price of an F1 car is high.
Brake system: 205.06 dollars
To reduce the high speed -more than 350 km/h- than a F1 car reaches in a very short distance -less than 100 meters-, the brake system -including its carbon-carbon disks- has to be the cane of Spain.
That’s why we’re making your 205.06 dollars a bicycle because you’ll tell us what a car without a good brake system does. It would be impossible to drive without them. It is undoubtedly one of the fundamental safety elements, even though in the price of a F1 car they represent a minimum part.
Tires: 728.96
Rubber has a great influence on the performance of single-seaters. Each one, currently supplied by Pirelli, costs around 728.96 dollars, which means an average of 300,000 euros per year for each team. How much do you spend on changing the wheels of your cucumber?
The 11 elements mentioned together amount to more than 8 million dollars. But he hopes that to know more precisely how much a F1 car costs, it would be necessary to add some ‘intangibles’. We are referring to the endless hours of research of staff of several hundred employees working in the factories. Not to mention the countless materials used in many tests that end up being discarded. It’s almost better to stop, so we’re running out of budget.